Photos: Protest in Moscow

DMITRY SEREBRYAKOV, AFP/Getty Images03.15.2014

Protesters carry Ukrainian and Russian flags in Moscow, on March 15, 2014, during a rally against recent Russia’s move on Crimea. Around 50,000 people rallied today in central Moscow in protest at Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, a day before the Crimean peninsula is expected to vote on switching to Kremlin rule, an AFP team estimated.

DMITRY SEREBRYAKOV
/ AFP/Getty Images

Protesters carry Ukrainian and Russian flags in Moscow, on March 15, 2014, during a rally against recent Russia’s move on Crimea. Around 50,000 people rallied today in central Moscow in protest at Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, a day before the Crimean peninsula is expected to vote on switching to Kremlin rule, an AFP team estimated.DMITRY SEREBRYAKOV
/ AFP/Getty Images

A woman raises her fist as pro-Russian activists hold Russian national flags during a demonstration rally in the center of the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on March 15, 2014. The second successive day of deadly unrest that has now claimed three lives in the mainly Russian-speaking east came hours after Moscow -- its forces already in control of Crimea and conducting snap drills at Ukraine’s eastern border -- warned that it reserved the right to “protect” compatriots throughout its neighbour.ALEXANDER KHUDOTEPLY
/ AFP/Getty Images

Pro-Russian activists hold a banner and a sign reading “No EU” (R) during a demonstration rally in the center of the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on March 15, 2014. The second successive day of deadly unrest that has now claimed three lives in the mainly Russian-speaking east came hours after Moscow -- its forces already in control of Crimea and conducting snap drills at Ukraine’s eastern border -- warned that it reserved the right to “protect” compatriots throughout its neighbour.ALEXANDER KHUDOTEPLY
/ AFP/Getty Images

Demonstrators march in support of Kremlin-backed plans for the Ukrainian province of Crimea to break away and merge with Russia, in Moscow, Saturday, March 15, 2014. Large rival marches have taken place in Moscow over Kremlin-backed plans for Ukraineís province of Crimea to break away and merge with Russia. A poster depicts photos of WWII German prisoner of war and Ukrainian prime minister Arseniy atsenyuk,and says “Your project is doomed, grandson” (Alexander Zemlianichenko
/ AP

Pro-Russian activists shout slogans and hold Russian national flags during a demonstration rally in the center of the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on March 15, 2014. The second successive day of deadly unrest that has now claimed three lives in the mainly Russian-speaking east came hours after Moscow -- its forces already in control of Crimea and conducting snap drills at Ukraine’s eastern border -- warned that it reserved the right to “protect” compatriots throughout its neighbour.ALEXANDER KHUDOTEPLY
/ AFP/Getty Images

A man waves a Crimean flag as pro-russian people gather at central Simferopol’s Lenin Square on March 15, 2014. Ukraine’s flashpoint Crimea peninsula prepares for today’s referendum on joining Kremlin rule amid intense international pressure on Moscow not to annex the region and open negotiations with the new pro-EU leaders in Kiev that could resolve the worst East-West standoff since the Cold War.FILIPPO MONTEFORTE
/ AFP/Getty Images

Pro-russian people gather at central Simferopol’s Lenin Square on March 15, 2014. Ukraine’s flashpoint Crimea peninsula prepares for today’s referendum on joining Kremlin rule amid intense international pressure on Moscow not to annex the region and open negotiations with the new pro-EU leaders in Kiev that could resolve the worst East-West standoff since the Cold War.FILIPPO MONTEFORTE
/ AFP/Getty Images

Pro-Russian activists try to storm into Ukraine’s Security Service building following a rally in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on March 15, 2014. Russia vetoed a Western-backed resolution condemning the Crimea referendum at a UN Security Council emergency vote but China abstained, isolating Moscow further on the Ukraine crisis.ALEXANDER KHUDOTEPLY
/ AFP/Getty Images

Pro-Russian activists try to storm into Ukraine’s Security Service building following a rally in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on March 15, 2014. Russia vetoed a Western-backed resolution condemning the Crimea referendum at a UN Security Council emergency vote but China abstained, isolating Moscow further on the Ukraine crisis.ALEXANDER KHUDOTEPLY
/ AFP/Getty Images

Pro-Russian activists hold Russian national flags and raise their hands up in a symbolic vote during a demonstration rally in the center of the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on March 15, 2014. The second successive day of deadly unrest that has now claimed three lives in the mainly Russian-speaking east came hours after Moscow -- its forces already in control of Crimea and conducting snap drills at Ukraine’s eastern border -- warned that it reserved the right to “protect” compatriots throughout its neighbour.ALEXANDER KHUDOTEPLY
/ AFP/Getty Images

Pro-Kremlin activists carry flags of of the ruling party United Russia as they march in Moscow, on March 15, 2014, during a rally in support of recent Russia’s move on Crimea. Around 50,000 people rallied today in central Moscow in protest at Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, a day before the Crimean peninsula is expected to vote on switching to Kremlin rule, an AFP team estimated. A rival demonstration, which appeared to be well-organised, attracted 15,000 people in support of Putin, police estimated. ADMITRY SEREBRYAKOV
/ AFP/Getty Images

Former deputy prime minister turned opposition leader Boris Nemtsov (C) walks together with protesters carrying Ukrainian and Russian flags in Moscow, on March 15, 2014, during a rally against recent Russia’s move on Crimea. Around 50,000 people rallied today in central Moscow in protest at Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, a day before the Crimean peninsula is expected to vote on switching to Kremlin rule, an AFP team estimated.DMITRY SEREBRYAKOV
/ AFP/Getty Images

A girl wears t-shirt with slogan reading “Stop Putin” during a demonstration in front of the Russian embassy in Kiev on March 15, 2014, supporting the mass rally in Moscow against the Russian intervention in Crimea. Around 50,000 people rallied in central Moscow Saturday in protest of Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, a day before the Crimean peninsula votes on switching to Kremlin rule.YURY KIRNICHNY
/ AFP/Getty Images

Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin (C) votes against a resolution on Ukraine during a UN Security Council emergency meeting at United Nations headquarters in New York on March 15, 2014. Russia vetoed a Western-backed resolution condemning the Crimea referendum at a UN Security Council emergency vote but China abstained, isolating Moscow further on the Ukraine crisis. The draft resolution, which says Sunday’s referendum would have no validity, got 13 votes in the 15-member Council. But it was rejected when permanent member Russia exercised its veto.EMMANUEL DUNAND
/ AFP/Getty Images

Protesters carry Ukrainian and Russian flags in Moscow, on March 15, 2014, during a rally against recent Russia’s move on Crimea. Around 50,000 people rallied today in central Moscow in protest at Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, a day before the Crimean peninsula is expected to vote on switching to Kremlin rule, an AFP team estimated.DMITRY SEREBRYAKOV
/ AFP/Getty Images

An elderly woman dressed in a Ukrainian folk costume shows V-sing as demonstrators hold Russian and Ukrainian flags during a massive rally to oppose president Vladimir Putin’s policies in Ukraine, in Moscow, Saturday, March 15, 2014. Large rival marches have taken place in Moscow over Kremlin-backed plans for Ukraineís province of Crimea to break away and merge with Russia. More than 10,000 people turned out Saturday for a rally in the center of the city held to oppose what many demonstrators described as Russiaís invasion of the Crimean Peninsula. In a nearby location, a similar sized crowd voiced its support for Crimeaís ethnic Russian majority, who Moscow insists is at threat from an aggressively nationalist leadership now running Ukraine.Alexander Zemlianichenko
/ AP

Boris Nemtsov, a former Russian deputy prime minister and opposition leader addresses demonstrators during a massive rally to oppose president Vladimir Putin’s policies in Ukraine, in Moscow, Saturday, March 15, 2014. Large rival marches have taken place in Moscow over Kremlin-backed plans for Ukraineís province of Crimea to break away and merge with Russia. More than 10,000 people turned out Saturday for a rally in the center of the city held to oppose what many demonstrators described as Russiaís invasion of the Crimean Peninsula. In a nearby location, a similar sized crowd voiced its support for Crimeaís ethnic Russian majority, who Moscow insists is at threat from an aggressively nationalist leadership now running Ukraine.Alexander Zemlianichenko
/ AP

Pro-Kremlin activists march in Moscow, on March 15, 2014, during a rally in support of recent Russia’s move on Crimea. The banner reads: “There’s No Ford Through Fire!” Around 50,000 people rallied today in central Moscow in protest at Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, a day before the Crimean peninsula is expected to vote on switching to Kremlin rule, an AFP team estimated. A rival demonstration, which appeared to be well-organised, attracted 15,000 people in support of Putin, police estimated.DMITRY SEREBRYAKOV
/ AFP/Getty Images

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